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F. H. SMITH.

PORTABLE KIT. No. 585,713. Patented July '6, 1897.

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' H. SMITH.

PORTABLE KIT.

N0. 585,713. Patented July 6, 1897.

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IINiTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED I-I. SMITH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GENEVA OPTICAL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE;

PO RTABLE KIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,713, dated July 6, 1897.

Application filed April 12; 1897- mm No. 631,873. (No model.)

To all whom it puny-concern:

Be it known that I, FRED H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Kits, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same.

The invention relates to packing-cases, and is directed more especially to devices which serve as carriers for the sets of lenses and the other proper'appliances usual to an opticians testing outfit. Kits of this sort at present in I 5 use are cumbrous and unwieldly.

The purpose is to provide an improved type of case equal in capacity with others before employed, but much more compact in form,

and with the several parts readily available, yet snugly packed together against risk of breakage by rough handling.

The nature of the invention will appear in detail from the following description and be thereafter pointed out by claim at the con- 2 5 clusion.

On the drawings which accompany like parts bear like designation throughout.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the closed kit. Fig. 2 is a like view with the box-flaps of the kit opened out. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 a cross-section view, of the closed case.

The box-like case a, conveniently made of leather-covered board, has its top (9 and front 3'; c hinged thereto to constitute ample flaps, which overlie each other on folding and are interlocked together by catches d of ball-andsocket type, familiar as glove-fasteners, of other suitable sort. The bottom, back, and

0 ends of the case are rigidly connected together, as shown. Top I) is generally arched in outline and carries internally a lid 6, serving to inclose the arch space and thus afford room for packing the skeleton frames and other appliances usual to a test-kit.

Neatly fitted within the box-case is a series of trays f, piled in tier and having between them, ordinarily at opposite ends, the ledges g, conveniently made in piece with each trayframe and serving to space the trays apart. The several trays are recessed or partitioned,

as shown, to receive the various lenses it necessary for the outfit. The lenses extend slightly beyond their appropriate recesses in the trays, so that in vertical set, Fig. 4, the rim of each lens is in contact with its neighbor to brace the set against displacement. The internal lid 6 for the top or cover 19 bears a soft yieldinglower face of plush or the like and at its ends overlies the upper tray-ledges g and thus holds the trays in compact pile together. Any marked displacement of the vertical rows of lenses is resisted by the soft face of lid 6, against which the top lens quickly impinges or permanently bears. In folded state the box-flaps b o, by aid of catches cl, cooperate with the lens-trays, the inner lid 6 and the rows of lenses in vertical sets hearing against each other to maintain the contents of the kit snugly intact. Handle h, secured to cover I), affords a ready means for carrying the kit. By the structure detailed the several trays of the kit are all quickly available, yet are easily reset to position for handy carriage in compact form, while the risks of breakage or displacement become materially lessened.

Manifestly the details of structure may be varied according to the mechanics skill with out essential departure from the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A portable kit for Opticians testing outfits comprising a box-like case having its bottom, 8 5 back and ends rigidly secured together and having a front hinged to said bottom and a chambered top hinged to said back and adapted to close over said ends and said front, and a series of superposed trays provided with re- 0 cesses to receive the lenses, the ends of said trays projecting vertically beyond the sides to form ledges whereon the trays rest and whereby the trays will be inter-spaced, and a hinged lid beneath the top to close the cham- 5 her thereof, and guard the lenses against displacement, substantially as described.

FRED II. SMITH.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. PEIROE, ALBERTA ADAMICK. 

